Review: The MEG

Story:
After escaping an attack by what he claims was a 70-foot shark, Jonas Taylor must confront his fears to save those trapped in a sunken submersible.

Overall Review:
Based on Steve Alten’s novel Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror, “The MEG” is an action thriller starring Jason Statham. This is the first movie in a long time where Jason Statham is not an action hero type and he proves that he is more than that. The film is about a group of explorers and scientists who submerge deep into the hidden layer of the ocean where their submersible is attacked by a giant, 75-foot prehistoric shark called Megalodon. Disgraced expert rescue-diver Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham) is urgently sent down to save them before the oxygen runs out. But by submerging in and out of this uncharted depth, it opens a pathway for the Megalodon to the top of the ocean and right to their underwater research facility. The first half of the movie is a search-and-rescue film and then from 2nd half it organically turns into the seek-and-destroy film. It’s fast pace storyline makes the two hour run time fly bye, and the movie is one of the few to find the perfect balance between comedy and scares. Statham does a great job being the captain of this cast. Not only does he have screen presence and charisma, but he has chemistry with his entire ensemble. Most of the special effects are well done with the Meg drawn with layers and texture as to make it believable. However, there are a few scenes which look terribly fake though they are few and far between. The sea life and vegetation of the sea floor are vibrant and stunning amidst a blackened canvas creating a striking contrast. The wide shots of the vast ocean are immense but some of the close-ups with the cast in the water don’t look convincing. It’s a mixture of good and bad visually. The movie is the kind of brainless blockbuster one can hope for. The action sequences are over-the-top but glorious in its execution, and the violence is wild, silly and most importantly, fun. Providing a great starring vehicle for Jason Statham, “The Meg” is everything one can expect out of a shark movie: DUMB, CHEESY and THRILLING entertainment..

PDF Verdict:
The movie adaptation of Steve Alten’s 1997 book Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror isn’t great cinema but as giant shark movies go, it largely lives up to expectations. It is dumb and cheesy film where you’ll scream, laugh, and stay the hell out of the water. A BRAINLESS SHARK FLICK !!